Archer Earth Community May Update

[Dianne Hearn]

Dear Friends

Archer Earth Community Agape dates 2025

Our dates for Agape in 2025 are as follows:

May Monday 12 Coochiemudlo 

June 9 Mystery of Wind (Brian Swimme) 

July Friday 11  Osprey House, Griffin

August Monday 11 Rewilding the Urban Soul 

September 1-4 Retreat at Bunya Mountains 

October 12 or 13 The wisdom of Ilia Delio 

November 9 or 10 TBD

December Sunday 14 Christmas Celebration 

April Agape - Easter Sunday

We gathered in darkness on the Shorncliffe foreshore to welcome Easter morning in quiet contemplation with a gentle breeze, lapping water and early birdsong. 

As more of us arrived and the skies lightened we listened again to the resurrection story - ‘He has risen!  Do not be afraid.’

We offered thanks 

For this most amazing day;

For the leaping greening spirits of trees

And a blue true dream sky;

For everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who’ve died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday; 

this is the birth day of life and of love and wings.

And of the gay great happening illimitably earth) …..

Now the eyes of my eyes are opened…e.e.commings

We recalled the story of the risen Jesus on the shore of Lake Galilee preparing a breakfast of bread and fish for the disciples while we broke bread together.  Our time together continued with a shared breakfast and lots of Easter joy! (some pics below)

May Agape - Monday 12

Our May Agape is at Coochiemudlo hosted by Heather and David at 24 Carefree Street.  We catch the ferry from Victoria Point.  It leaves half hourly and we will aim for the 9.30am ferry.  Please bring lunch to share and let Heather & David know if you are able to attend.  Heather 0413 563 671;  David 0401 212 913 or email hdec...@gmail.com Details are attached below. 

Archer Meditation  

Our meditation gatherings are on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. We gather at 2461 Sandgate Rd Boondall from 9.30am to 10am or via the zoom option at https://www.worldpeaceprayer.org/

Simply enter this site and click on the candle or link to join the meditation. 

Next Meditation Dates are:  May 7  & 21

Archer Earth Community Bunya Mountains Retreat September 1-4

Our three day retreat in the Bunya Mountains commences on the afternoon of Monday 1 September and concludes on the morning of Thursday 4 September.  Could those booked into the two chalets please confirm your attendance with Heather and David and make payment so we can book other accommodation as required (hdec...@gmail.com).  We will finalise accommodation and seek volunteers for organising housekeeping and retreat sessions at later Agapes.

Vale Francis

We heard of Francis’s passing this week with sadness and with gratitude.  As the Archer Earth Community we have been inspired and challenged by his call to respond to the ‘Cry of the Poor and the Cry of the Earth, Our Common Home’.

You may be interested in these reflections on Francis from Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim.  See  https://mailchi.mp/yale/pope-francis?e=14e5a29bb8

In his recent biography Francis shares his love of classical music saying that Et incarnatus est by Mozart in C Minor ‘can take you by the hand and lead you to God’. You may like to listen now and recall your memories of Francis.  See https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WD-GLExZAs

Thanks from Don Scott

Don expresses his appreciation to his many friends in the Archer Earth Community network for their care and prayers for him and his family during his brother’s illness.  Gerard passed away peacefully on Monday 14 April.  Rest in Peace.

2461 Sandgate Rd Boondall

We have been informed by the Christian Brothers’ Leadership Team that 2461 Sandgate Road will be sold this year and hence we will no longer have the use of those facilities for our gatherings. It has served us well in the past few years as we made the transition from the Mount Archer property to the coast but we always knew it would be a temporary stop on the way into the future.

We have immersed ourselves in the bio-region of the coast and held AGAPE reflections/rituals in various locations in and around Brisbane. We have met at 2461 for our fortnightly meditation, for planning, and occasionally for Agape and we are grateful for this.  We are at present negotiating another space that we may be able to use for these purposes.

In the shed at 2461 there is still some furniture from the Mt Archer property that can be given away to anyone interested.  Please contact Tony AEHemp...@edmundrice.org

At this stage we will continue to use the facilities at 2461 and keep you informed as the sale progresses.

This development invites us to go deeper into Mother Earth once again, to find our place there and engage with her in our reflections. We are asked to pull up our tent pegs once again and move into the unknown. As we did in our move from Mt Archer, we do this again with trust and hope.

Ecospirituality Essay

You may be interested in this article Ecospirituality is more that ecology and theology.  It calls us to reconnect.  The article draws on Scripture, indigenous spirituality and Laudato Si to deepen our understanding of the Divine.

See https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/ecospirituality-more-ecology-and-theology-it-calls-us-reconnect

Key Dates in May

May 5 Edmund Rice Feast Day

Archer Earth Community grew out of the Retreat and Spirituality Centre at Mt Archer sponsored by the Christian Brothers and Josephite Sisters.  We continue to be inspired and challenged by Edmund’s commitment to those who were poor and marginalised.  To read more about his legacy see https://www.erc.org.au/who_was_edmund_rice

  

May 10 World Migratory Bird Day

The theme this year is Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities.  You may be interested in this description of the migratory birds that visit the Moreton Bay Area.  See https://www.lfwseq.org.au/migratory-shorebirds/

May 16-24 Laudato Si Week (Australian dates)

On 24 May we commemorate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on Care for Our Common Home.  Part of Francis’s legacy is reflected in the theme this year, Raising Hope as described in this passage from Laudato Si #244:  Let us sing as we go.  May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.

See https://laudatosiweek.org/

May 20 World Bee Day

The theme this year is Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all.  Bees play an important part in food production as pollinators and also help support plant diversity.  See https://www.worldbeeday.org.au/

May 22 International Day for Biodiversity

The theme this year is Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.  Biodiversity includes not only variety of plants, animals and microorganisms but also genetic variations within each species.  You may be interested in this study by University of Sydney mapping genetic diversity in Koala populations across Australia. See https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/12/03/new-map-shows-where-koalas-are-at-most-risk.html

May 26 National Sorry Day

Sorry Day marks the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home Report in 1997and commemorates Stolen Generation survivors.  See https://healingfoundation.org.au/sorryday/

May 27-3 June National Reconciliation Week

The theme this year is 'Bridging Now to Next' . It reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.  It urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward towards a more united and respectful nation as past lessons guide us.  The theme song is 'Solid Rock' by Goanna - ‘standing on solid rock, standing on sacred ground’.  See https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

We conclude with a prayer from Francis at the conclusion of Laudato Si:

God of love, show us our place in this world

 as channels of your love 

for all the creatures of this earth, 

for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. 

Enlighten those who possess power and money 

that they may avoid the sin of indifference, 

that they may love the common good, 

advance the weak, 

and care for this world in which we live. 

The poor and the earth are crying out. 

Seize us with your power and light, 

help us to protect all life, 

to prepare for a better future, 

for the coming of your Kingdom 

of justice, peace, love and beauty.

Praise be to you!  Amen.

Blessings from

Archer Earth Community